Predictors for Vulnerable Plaque in Functionally Significant Lesions

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2025 Feb;18(2):195-206. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2024.07.021. Epub 2024 Sep 11.

Abstract

Background: Vulnerable plaque presents prognostic implications in addition to functional significance.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify relevant features of vulnerable plaque in functionally significant lesions.

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective study conducted across 5 countries, including patients who had invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) ≤0.80, a total of 95 patients with available pullback pressure gradient (PPG) and plaque analysis on coronary computed tomographic angiography and optical coherence tomography were analyzed. Vulnerable plaque was defined as the presence of plaque rupture or thin-cap fibroatheroma on optical coherence tomography. Among the 25 clinical characteristics, invasive angiographic findings, physiological indexes, and coronary computed tomographic angiographic findings, significant predictors of vulnerable plaque were identified.

Results: Mean percentage diameter stenosis, FFR, and PPG were 77.8% ± 14.6%, 0.66 ± 0.13, and 0.65 ± 0.13, respectively. Vulnerable plaque was present in 53 lesions (55.8%). PPG and FFR were identified as significant predictors of vulnerable plaque (P < 0.05 for all). PPG >0.65 and FFR ≤0.70 were significantly related to a higher probability of vulnerable plaque after adjustment for each other (OR: 6.75 [95% CI: 2.39-19.1]; P < 0.001] for PPG >0.65; OR: 4.61 [95% CI: 1.66-12.8]; P = 0.003 for FFR ≤0.70). When categorizing lesions according to combined PPG >0.65 and FFR ≤0.70, the prevalence of vulnerable plaque was 20.0%, 57.1%, 66.7%, and 88.2% in the order of PPG ≤0.65 and FFR >0.70, PPG ≤0.65 and FFR ≤0.70, PPG >0.65 and FFR >0.70, and PPG >0.65 and FFR ≤0.70 (P for trend < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions: Among low-FFR lesions, the presence of vulnerable plaque can be predicted by PPG combined with FFR without additional anatomical or plaque characteristics. (Precise Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Plan [P3] Study; NCT03782688).

Keywords: fractional flow reserve; myocardial ischemia; plaque rupture; pullback pressure gradients; thin-cap fibroatheroma.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Catheterization*
  • Computed Tomography Angiography*
  • Coronary Angiography* / methods
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / pathology
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / physiopathology
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / therapy
  • Coronary Stenosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Stenosis* / pathology
  • Coronary Stenosis* / physiopathology
  • Coronary Stenosis* / therapy
  • Coronary Vessels* / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Vessels* / pathology
  • Coronary Vessels* / physiopathology
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Fibrosis
  • Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Rupture, Spontaneous
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03782688